Another pretty good day for the Bass Trakk crew. Looks like they finally have things hammered out much better compared to the past couple years. It really is nice to be able to follow the Bass Trakk updates throughout the day and know that the reported weights are, for the most part, within a couple pounds of actual. Much more exciting come weigh-in time than to find out the observer wasn't even close, and your hopes (either up or down) get crushed :)
I told myself I wouldn't even bother this year, but I did it anyway. I can't help myself. Turns out to be their best showing in 3 years. Maybe they're learning. Maybe they're peeking at my site ;-) They've utilized a couple of my past "recommendations" this last year, including in this Classic. - maybe coincidence, maybe not - stranger things have happened.
Anyway, on to the numbers for those that are interested. Underguessing ruled (~80% of the field), and the average difference between Bass Trakk and actual weights slid below the 2lb. mark for the first time since I've tracked it. There were also only 4 anglers that they had no information on today, and it turns out one of those was probably because Brandon weighed no fish.
Jacob says this new bait from Strike King, the KVD Sexy Dawg, is a dead ringer for the now discontinued Vixen, and will flat be a killer.
If you've got the bucks to drop, Lithium-Ion batteries are the new deal in bass boats. Do a search for what Aaron Martens says about them. He's running everything in his boat off them.
Check out this new entry into the squarebill market from crankbait manufacturer Stanford (handcrafted cedar).
Ike's new custom Rapala DT colors being unveiled at the Bassmaster Classic Expo this week.
Big weekend in Shreveport for the Bassmaster Classic - and while we know anglers have lots of stuff to see and do, hopefully they can find the time to stop by the Shimano, G.Loomis and PowerPro exhibits at the Classic Outdoor Expo...
Shimano - it's the official intro for the new Core Mg7 baitcasting reel (product release below). Plus we're kicking-off a special $30 Cash Bonus promotion on the Chronarch, Curado and Citica reels. We weren't sure where our government was going with the payroll tax debate, so Shimano is knocking $30 off any of these reels bought from Feb. 24 through April 22.
G.Loomis - we'll have all the NRX 'Green' bass rods to check out, along with the 2011 ICAST Show award-winning GL2 series - jig and worm casting and spinning rods, crankbait, spinnerbait, swimbait, flipping and drop shot rods, plus a few trout jig spinning rods.
PowerPro - Super 8 Slick braid has been a huge introduction for our PowerPro brand. Smooth as silk, casts like a bullet, silent as as assassin - and offered in both timber brown and aqua green colors to give avid bass anglers even a better fish-catching advantage.
SHIMANO EXPANDS CORE BAITCASTING REEL SERIES WITH HIGH-SPEED RETRIEVE CORE 100MG7
IRVINE, Calif. – New for 2012 – Bassmaster Classic Outdoor Expo Intro – Providing anglers with a faster 7.0:1 gear ratio reel for primarily finesse bait fishing, Shimano adds the new 100Mg7 to its Core baitcasting reel series. Along with this new reel, the series now includes the Core 50Mg7 and left-hand retrieve 51Mg7 with 7.0:1 gear ratios, and the Core 100Mg and 101Mg with 6.2:1 gear ratios.
According to Ken Iida with Shimano’s product development team, as the trend continues in light line finesse bait fishing, “we wanted to provide anglers with this higher speed 100 size Core to cover water more effectively. The Core 100Mg7 will provide all-day fishing comfort for anglers in light line, slack line fishing situations, for when using light fluorocarbon, and also with our new PowerPro Super 8 Slice braid.”
As featured on all Core reels, the Core 100Mg7 has a low-profile design with a lightweight magnesium frame and sideplate, along with Shimano’s ultralight Magnumlite spool. Shimano’s High Efficiency Gearing (HEG) combined with a long shank Power Handle provides smooth powerful retrieves, while Shimano’s Super Free bearing supported pinion gear eliminates friction for the spool shaft for exceptional freespool.
The Core 100Mg7 includes four shielded A-RB (anti-rust) bearings for durability and corrosion resistance, an A-RB roller bearing to eliminate any handle backplay, and its Tapered Titanium Levelwind Insert that makes set-up much easier, even in the dark. It will quickly retrieve 30-inches of line per crank – “perfect to come tight fast in slack line fishing situations,” said Iida.
Identical to the other Core 100 size reels, the 100Mg7 will handle 110 yards of 10-pound test, and when using PowerPro braid, it can hold 130 yards of 30-pound, and up to 55 yards of 65-pound.
For more information on Shimano’s new ultra-lightweight Core 100Mg7 baitcasting reel, see you local tackle dealer - visit the Shimano web site at http://fish.shimano.com - or call Shimano’s product support team at 877/577-0600 (6 am to 5 pm Pacific Standard Time).
If you've already hit the boat show and are looking for something different to do this coming weekend, check out the Smallie Stravaganza in Zionsville on Saturday, Feb. 25th. Catered in barbeque dinner (Squealers), Prof. Jerry Sweeten talking about smallmouth research in Indiana, and lots of silent auction items to bid on. A great way to kill a few hours on a Saturday evening. Everyone welcome - pay at the door - all proceeds benefit more research and conservation efforts right here in Indiana.
Matt McCoy Going for Green on the Red River
Matt McCoy is a weekend warrior who is fishing to win the Bassmaster Classic. He has worked his way up through the B.A.S.S. ranks by doing what he loves, fishing with a Stupid Tube lure.
“We worked closely with Matt and his uncle Terry McWilliams to design a custom built lure known as the Stupid TubeTM”, said Nathan Gray of Secret Lures. "Terry used the bait to finish 4th in the 2007 Classic, while Matt has used it for almost every single fish to get to the Classic and hopefully win it all. The Stupid Tube bait has very specific design characteristics that allow it to perform a unique darting and gliding action, as shown by the results of Matt and Terry. The Stupid Tube plastic had to have a specific length, wall thickness, diameter, salt content, softness and durability to excel for the rigging and technique. The Stupid Tube lure when used in conjunction with the Stupid Tube jig head and rigged like Matt and Terry fish it, can flat out catch fish when all else fails. It is the perfect power and finesse tool for pressured fish.”
“I am ready and I am here to win”, said McCoy, the Bass Federation Nation Northern Championship Winner. “I have been very successful with the Stupid Tube lure and I hope to continue that success by winning the Classic. It would mean a lot to me and my family.”
Well we made another trip over to Newton this year to see if we could thump on some active bass in the warmer waters. We pulled in around 7:15 only to see a wrapped Nitro Z-9 being backed into the lake. Sam and I knew right away it was Mark Zona and a special guest shooting an episode of his show. Turns out his guest was Dave Mercer. Needless to say we were excited to have caught them on the lake the same day as us. We launched and started our way up towards the warmer waters with high hopes. The day was pretty slow overall as we only managed to boat 15 bass. All but two were solid fish of 2 1/2 pounds or more with one pushing the 4 pound mark. We'll take it for February. The fish we caught came mostly on stupid tubes and shakey heads with the big one coming on a finesse jig in a foot of water.
We passed Zona and Mercer about half way through the day and had a little chat about the fishing. They also had a slow day catching only 8 fish but they did have a nice one pushing 5 pounds. They also said that Denny Brauer had been the week before and had a tough day too. My Grandpa Steve decided to hit the docks early and was able to catch Zona and Mercer coming off the water while we were still fishing. He got a few pictures with them and some autographs for us before they headed out. My Grandpa also talked to some locals pulling off which said that the lake was not producing the same amount of numbers as last year and was in a funk partly due to the plant being shut down for a few weeks during December.
Still we had a fun time and catching those two big shots on the water made the day well worth it! Looking forward to some good pre-spawn action here in Indiana!
-Caleb Taylor
